Improvement in relief-pistons for pumps



Patented Feb. 11,1879.

m m NX W N N I ATTORNEYS.

M. B. BRANNEN. Relief-Pistons for Pumps.

METERS. PHOTO-LITMOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON n n'rn'r FFIG MICHAEL B. BRANNEN,OF SHENANDOAH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN L. WILLIAMS,OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RELlEF=PISTONS FOR PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,180, dated February11, 1879; application filed December 27, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL B. BRANNEN, of Shenandoah, in the county ofSchuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedRelief-Piston for Pumps, of which the following is a specification:

In pumping water, especially when two pumps are used and discharging tothe same column, there is always jar and strain at the end andcommencement of the stroke, owing to the shutting of the valves, so thatwhen the water has to be lifted a long distance high speed of the pumpsis not safe.

The object of my invention is to relieve the pressure between thepiston-head and valves by the elastic action of an air-cushion, whichwill enable the piston to commence its stroke more easily than when thewhole load is upon it in starting.

The invention consists in the use of a plunger or piston fitted in achamber at each end, which chambers are connected one with the columnand the other with the suction-pipe. The piston is pressed in onedirection by elastic action of air contained in one ehanr her and movedin the other direction by the pressure of water caused by the pump.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of myrelief apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line a: to.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

a b are cylinders, placed in line, and forming chambers at the oppositeends of the loose piston or plunger 0, which works through air-tightpackings in the heads of the cylinders a. b. Each cylinder at the endopposite its head is formed with a flange for connection of pipes, ashereinafter described, and also with an opening smaller in diameter thanpiston c, as seen at d c, and in operation the piston closes upon theseopenings. The

edges of openings (1 0 form seats for the end of the piston, and may betapered, if desired, and the ends of the piston provided with rubberdisks, so that they will close air-tight. In the side of each cylinderto b is an opening having a manhole plate, as seen at f, through whichopening access may be had to the seats.

The opening (1 in cylinder to communicates with a pipe, g, which I callthe air-pipe, that has connection with the column of water. In the pipeg is a cock, h, for regulating the pressure of air in pipe g andcylinder to. The opening a in cylinder b communicates with thesuction-pipe of the pump, so that there is free passage for water tocylinder 11. The suctionpipe is represented in dotted lines at i, andthe column-pipe at k.

In the position of piston c, as shown in the drawings, it is closedagainst opening 6 in cy1- inder b, and the next stroke of the pump willact to force the water that has been drawn by the suction-pipe into thecolumn-pipe. When the pump first starts the pressure upon the water willbe communicated through the opening 6 to piston c, which will be causedto rise against the air in cylinder a, thus relieving the pump of partof its load for a moment until the pump has obtained a momentum.

The elastic air-cushion in cylinder a, and pipe aids the start of thepump on the return stroke, and returns piston c to the position shown inthe drawings.

It is to be understood that the valves of the pump operate in the usualmanner, my relief device being independent in its action. The cylinderat is provided with a cock, 1, to permit the escape of air from cylinder(0 when it is desired to repair the packing of piston c.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In combination with water-pumps, a relief pistonor plunger, fitted in cylinders that are connected one with thesuction-pipe and the other with the water-column, substantially asdescribed and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement of the cylinders a b and piston cwith the suctionpipe and water-column of a pump, substan tially asdescribed and shown, and for the p u rposes specified.

MIOHAEL B. BRANNEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. Rnnsn, JAMEs WooLEY.

